Score register



A. HOLZNER SCORE REGISTER Nov. 21, 1939.

Filed May 17, 1937 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- z,1ao,s9o scone anorsrnn Adolf Holmer, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 17, 1931, Serial No. 142,975 50laims. (01. 235-111) This invention relates to improvements in counters, as they are for instance described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 690,811, filed September 25, 1933, in which a total and a separate score counter are coupled in such a manner that by the operation of a wheel to iturn in one direction a score is set in both of the V counters, while the operation of the wheel in the opposite direction will have no eifect on the separate counter, which thus will remain stationary, while the total score counter will turn to act for :subtraction.

It is the object of the present invention to improve the counter disclosed in my prior above identified application so as to provide a more perfect device which answers all requirements for keeping score of a pocket billiard game.

It is one of the objects of my present invention to couple three counters in such a manner as to indicate in one counter the scratches, in the other the total score, and in the third or :separate counter the number of balls in innings played.

At the start of the total counter in one direction to count the score made, the scratch counter will remain stationary, while the total and the separate score counters will act to add the number of balls played.

If, however, the total score counter is operated to turn in the opposite direction, the scratch counter will act to add the scratches, while the totalscore counter acts for subtraction and the separate score counter will remain stationary.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a (counter employing two operating members. one for subtraction and'the other for adding whereby the operation of one of these members will be indicated by the sounding of a bell, and the operation of the other of these members will also be indicated by a bell however having a different tone than the first named bell, either of a. higher or lower pitch.

It will be clear that in this manner the counter will attract the attention in a pleasing and attractive manner as the sounding of the bells will instantly call the attention of players as well as onlookers to the progress of the game.

It frequently happens in a game that one of.

the players has balls to subtract while he has no score balls made, and itis*a 'further important object of my invention to provide a counter in which-during the addition of the scratch balls while the total score counter is rotated also, the numbers 999 as they would appear the in the above identified patent application, are covered by a plate showing the numerals 000 and brought before the number wheels at the correct moment by a special mechanism, so that during the operation of the scratch counter the 5 total counter can be operated without displaying the misleading numbers 999 in the total score counter.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a counter of the duplex type in which in contradistinction to the cam operated slides disengaging the transfer shaft along ion gitudinal slots in the casing, as disclosed in my above mentioned prior application, in this application, I reduce the slides and use one cam to operate two slides, while in the present application 1 use one cam which operates one slide only, and thus simplify the construction consid erably.

These and other objects and advantages of my 29 invention will become more fully known as the description thereof proceeds, and will then be specifically defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a counter constructed according to my invention, with parts of the housing broken away to disclose the interior mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a section, on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 shows a detail view of an operating wheel to impart a step by step motion to the first number wheel of the counter.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a clutch.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a spring-controlled ratchet wheel.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 1-1 of Figure 1. Fig. 8 shows the mechanism illustrated in Figure 7 at an angle thereto. Fig. 9 is an end view fragmentarily illustrating the spring controlled hoop-member.

As illustrated,,the housingl of the counter constructed according to my invention is divided by the partitions la, lb and le into four chambers containing the operating mechanism.

Between-the partitions la and lb a shaft I2 is located freely rotating in suitable hearings in these walls and carries the number wheel A in the chamber formed by the partition 'walls lb and lo, and extends through partition wall lo and carries on its outer end an operating wheel II, which, as shown in Figure 4, has ten notches. and a spring 30 engages in one of these notches 191 a purpose later onm'orefully to be explained. '65

I will now first describe the transfer mechanism from one number wheel to the other:

Number wheel B has a bushing 8 and said number wheel Bis next to the number wheel 5 A which rotates freely on shaft l2 and number wheel C has also a bushing ll freely rotating on bushing 8 and the zero wheel Z rotates freely on bushing l9, while a gear is is secured to wheel Z and a gear to is secured to the bushing ill of 10 number wheel C, while a gear 51) is secured to bushing 9 of the number wheel B and a gear in s secured to the shaft l2 carrying number wheel A. These gears serve to set the number wheels to zero, as will later on more fully be described. Each of the number wheels has a finger disk 2 associated therewith and also a gear 3 with 10 teeth as shown in Figure 3, except the firstnumber wheel A on the shaft l2 with which the gear 3 is replaced by a wheel ll as above stated.

an A transfer shaft 25 (Fig. 3) is arranged behind the shaft l2 and is held by slides while bearing in slots of the casing walls as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The transfer shaft 25 carries freely turning 26 gears having each six teeth, (Fig. 3), and a 80 clockwise, the arrow shownin Figure 3, and

pointing in clockwise direction is for the indication of the operation of the zero plate to be-more fully explained hereafter the finger disk 2 will leave gear 23, and if this turning movement is 35 continued until the numeral 9 appears, the finger disc 2 will assume a position in front of a tooth on gear 23, and upon further rotationof the number wheel A the disc 2 will come in mesh with gear 28 on shaft 25, and in this moment a transfer operation takes place over to the number wheel 2B, which has a gear 9 in engagement with gear 28,.as gear 28 is as'wide as both the finger disk 2 and gear iljso that by said operation the number 10 appears before the window, the numeral 1 on number wheel B and the numeral on number wheel A, and in this manner a transfer operation from one number wheel to the other is effected.

The same operation will take place as afore- 0 described with respect to number wheels A, B and c on shaft i2, with number wheels A, B with the exception that the numerals on wheels A',-' B run in a direction opposite to the reading of the numerals on Wheels A, B and C, and are naturally also operated in opposite direction, as

forinstance, upon the downwardly directed rotation of number wheel A on shaft t2, the numeral 1 follows upon numeral 0, while on number wheel A on its shaft ii in an upwardly directed rota- 60 tion, numeral number 1 follows 9. In the scratch counter the finger discs 2 and gears 3' work in the same manner as described with respect to disks 2 and gears 3 for the totalmore counter with the exception that the finger disk 2' is not 65 arranged above one tooth of gear 28 (Fig. 3) but 75 no total score and the number it A, B nd 1 the same direction, while the zero plate remains C display the numerals 000,11 now in the counter a subtraction must take place while all number wheels display a 0, as soon as the counter is operated, in a direction opposite to direction for adding the score, all number wheels A, n and c 5 would show the numerals 999 and if further rotated they would display the numerals 998, and in order to avoid such display which would be erroneous and misleading, I have provided the zero wheel Z with a plate I32 as shown in Figure3 which will cover the number wheels C, B and A and be spaced from said wheels to leave just room enough for the number wheels to move without being touched by plate I32, and thus, if the number wheels are rotated to display the numerals 999 this number will be covered by the zero plate l3z carrying the three numerals 000. so that the counter can be further operated in in position to cover the numerals on the counters A, B and C until the counter is againoperated for adding purposes and subtraction as well, and the zero plate will disappear for instance with the first subtracting operation three 999 will appear behind the zero plate and at the second operation the numeral 998 and with the adding operation beneath plate I32 appears the numeral 999 and with the second operation disappears the zero plate and the three 000 of the number wheels appear. This mechanism operates in the following manner: As shown in Figure 3, the finger disks 2 of the number wheels A, B and C are located exactly in front of one tooth of the gears 28 and all of the gears 3 are in mesh with the gears 28 and also the gear 3 of the zero wheel Z, and with one operation of the number wheel A in a direction opposite to adding the score, the finger disk 2 of all the number wheels meshes with all of the gears 23 and a transfer from one number wheel to the other is effected and also 40 to the zero wheel Z, which then moves upward with the zero plate I32, or, as shown in Figure 3 by the arrow, in clockwise direction.

The zero plate its is made in one piece with the plate of wheel Z, bent at an angle thereto, as shown inFigures 1 and 3, and will display the three 000 behind the window and cover thereby the three 999 on the number wheels A, B and C, as above described. The aforedescribed movements or operations of thezero plate are taking place as described because all the gears 3 of all the number wheels and the gear 3 of the zero wheel Z are in mesh with the gears 28, and also all the discs 2 of all the number wheels will periodically come into mesh with the same gears 228, so that by the operation of the first number wheel Ain a direction opposite for adding, all the remaining number wheels and the zero wheel will be forced to move in the same direction, as

indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, in clockwise direction, and in the illustration Figure 1, upwards. It will be understood that while Figure 3 shows one of the wheels 28 only, the one between the number wheel C and the zero wheel Z, other wheels 28 are also between the number wheels C 5 and B and between B and A.

' The springs 29 hold the gears 8 in position, and also hold respectively the number wheels in place and alignment.

For the purpose of quickly resetting the numher wheels of two oppositely arranged counters the following mechanism is provided:

In the Figure. 2 a section is shown taken' through the operating mechanism for the number wheels A, B on shaft ll to show the manu .scribed with respect with the other number ner of resetting which is the same for all the number wheels. As shown in Figure 1, number wheel A is secured to shaft ll, number wheel B is freely rotating on shaft .H and at its left side is provided with a gear 8d secured thereto and following the same a gear is is secured on shaft ll belonging to number wheel 'A', and as shown in Figure 2, gear 8e has 8 teeth and a gap 88. A shaft l extending through the chamber in which the number wheels A, B and C are located, also extends through the chamber for numeral wheels A, B on shaft H, and a bushing l8 extending to the outside of the casing freely rotates on shaft 18 which alsoextends to the outside of the casing and said bushing l8 has secured thereto two cams I and one gear 8 which is as wide as the two gears 58 and 8d, and the gear 8 has also two gaps 84 on oppositely disposed faces. Figure 2 illustrates gear 58 of number wheel A in zero position. If now after a counting operation it is desired to reset the number wheels, before this resetting the number wheel will display any of the numbers except 0, and the gap 68 will have assumed a position at any point along the circumference of the gear 5e, and thus a tooth has to be at that point, where the gap 88 used to be when the number wheel displayed 0. Now, by turning the bushing l8 downwards for instance by a knurled collar, as provided in my Patent No. 2,097,065, the gear 8 will engage a tooth of gear 8e and turn the same until the gap 88 assumes its position in alignment with the center linev of the bushing i8, and the number wheel is zeroized. If now the rotation is continued, the gear 8 will always turn idly in the gap 88 and therefor the number wheel will be zeroized in one revolution of bushing l8 and gear 8, because gear 8 is secured to the bushing l8, and gear 8 has eight teeth and two gaps 88 and there are just as many teeth as on gear 8e. The gaps 88 on gear 8 serve the purpose of allowing the gears 8c of the two opposite counters, one for each player, to pass without meshing with the same during the countingoperation.

The same operation is performed by number wheels A, B and C and the zero wheel Z on shaft l2, each of these number wheels has a gear 5 and also the zero wheel Z, the gear 8' on the shaft I8 is as wide as the gears 80, 5b, 8c and 82. To

make it'possible that before said resetting operation can take place in all of the counters, the gears 28 on shaft 28 must be uncoupled from the gears 8 and finger disks 2 and for this purpose the slide 6 and the cams I are arranged.

Two transfer shafts of two oppositely disposed counters bear in the slides 8 and the projecting ends of shafts 25 are displaceable within the slots 28 in the casing. The slides are displaceable and have two slots 21 through which spindles ll of the counters A, B and I2 of the counters A, B and C extend. The cams 1 have the cam faces Ia and the slides are pressed against the cam faces in by the springs 24.

By turning the bushing l8 and shaft l5 downwards for zeroizing the number wheels A, B and C, the cams 1 will press against the slides and move the same, and the machine must be timed so that before'engaging gear 8 with gear 8 the cams uncouple the gears 8 and finger disks 2 and no jamming of the mechanism can take place.

As shown' in Figure 1, a shaft I I carries number wheels A" and B" and it is believed their operation need not further be described as the operation of the same by the transfer mechanism and'the zeroizing remains the same as above dewheels.

In the upper part of the casing three counters are provided having number wheels 58 which are necessary to perform the operations mentioned in the practical examples at the end of this description. All number wheels 58 are freely rotating on a shaft and each of these number wheels has an operating wheel 85 which operates just as wheel I! Figure 4 only it is of alarger size and projects through an opening in the casing so that the operator can manipulate it, This wheel 55 has also ten notches and a spring the same as stated above with respect to wheel I! (Fig. 4) engaging in one of these notches.

After having thus described the transfer and zeroizing mechanism I will now describe the specific manner of coupling the counters with one another.

We have here three spindles which carry number wheels, spindles I I, i2 and I4, and the coupling and operation is effected in the following manner: Counter A, B, .0, when so turned that the number wheels rotate in adding direction, will simultaneously have counters B", A" participate in this adding operation and the operation takes place at the point where bothspindles l2 and I! meet with their ends. During this operation the counter A, B remains stationary. The next operation when counter A, B, and C is operated to turn the number wheels for subtraction, it will simultaneously operate counter A, B, the wheels whereof however will operate for adding the score, and the operation takes place atthe point where the ends of the spindles II and I2 meet, and during this operation the counter A", B" will remain stationary. The mechanism during this operation will operate in the following manner: If counter A, B, C, is operated to subtract, spindles l2 and I I each of which has a ratchet wheel 82 attached thereto and also other ratchetwheels R on spindle ll, R on spindle II, R"-on spindle l5, R' on spindle l6, and R"" on shaft 65 will be allowed to operate in upward direction only as a spring 62 (Fig. 6) engages the ratchet wheel R. The means for the operation of the two counters or the two ratchet wheels 82 are the following: If operating member or button 22 is pushed, a substantially U- shaped member 88 will be operated as the member 22 is secured to a shaft 48 which is guided in an opening of the casing and is secured to member 88 which has curved shape and carries at its lower end a pin substantially square in crosssectlon, designated 85 while ,shaft 48 is secured to the loop member 88. The cross-pin 85 is guided within a guide 81 provided with a square opening, while shaft 85 has at one end a round portion 58. The guide member 81 is riveted to the casing and a plate or disk rests upon the rivets while a coil spring 88 rests on this plate and another plate ii is provided on the lower part of the loop member 88 and presses the coil spring 86 together if the operating member 22 is pushed so that loop member 88 is raised again for a new operation. With the depression of member 22, the spindles H and 12 are rotated, and a book 84 which is as wide as the two ratchet wheels 82 and pivoted about a pin 49 which" is secured to the loop member 88 is adapted to enter with play a recess 88 inthe member 88 and rotates freely on pin 49 while a spring 41 secured to the loop 88 presses the hook 88 normally into this recess. Upon depression. of the member 22 and loop 88 the hook will engage one tooth of the ratchet 32 and take it along up to the horizontal center line in which case the hook is pressed against the action of spring 41, and in the same moment the spring 62 will engage another tooth of the ratchet wheel R and prevent the shaft Ii to turn in the opposite direction, while upon the upward movement of the loop the coil spring 36 will return the loop into its elevated original position upwardly, so that the hook 34 glides along a surface 32a and will thus be unable to turn the ratchets 32 into the position originally held as the spring 62 as mentioned above, nowholds or arrests the ratchet wheel R and thus also ratchet wheel 22 of spindle ll so that also the ratchet wheel 32 on spindle i2 cannot be returned or taken along into its prior position, as the hook 34 glides along the surface 32a of the ratchet 32 on shaft II and during upward movement cannot exert any pressure on the ratchet 32 on shaft l2 in order to take it along. In this moment during the upward movement of the loop 33 the spring 41 presses the hook 34' again into its prior position in which it is located in front of a tooth of ratchet 32.

The same is true with respect to the operating member 23 for counters A" and B", with the operating member 22 actuated as described with the exception, that the ratchet wheels 32 and R on shaft l4 have their teeth directed in opposite direction so that upon an adding operation of spindle l2 also spindle l4 will be operated for adding. The same operation as described with respect to the member 22 and ratchet wheel R is taking place with respect to ratchet wheel R on the shaft M.

It will be evident that the members 22 and 23 are eccentrically located on the shafts 43 in order to give thecounter a more pleasing appearance because the members are thus located in the center between the two counters, although shaft 43 is, closer to one counter than to the other.

As seen in Figure 1. operating member 22 is designated by the legend Sub" and member 23 by the legend fAdd," for subtracting and adding respectively, and the depression of both produces the above described operations and simultaneously with these operations a bell is sounded which operates in the following manner:

On the rear wall of the casing a square post 43 is provided-having one of its ends threaded and extending into the casing and carries there a nut 33 which holds the post'to the casing. This post has .a space 43 formed therein (Fig. '7) in which move two lever arms 43 and 44 pivoted on a pin 42" secured to the post 40. At the end of the post the same has a reduced part 4| on which the .bell 33 is secured. As shown the arms '43, 44 are suitably bent and carry at their ends small balls K and K. To the post 43 are secured two coil springs 33 one for each arm which are also secured to the arms 43, 44. If now member 22 is depressed, the round portions 54 at the end of the shaft 35 will press upon the arm 43 so that its end will be lowered and the other end of 43 with the ball K will be removed from the bell 33 while during the upward movement of shaft 33 the coil spring 39' will return arm 43 into its prior position and in this moment the ball K will strike the bell and produce a sound. It will be understood that each pair of the operating knobs 22 and 23 operates a different bell ill, only one of whichis shown as an example, and it will be understood that the bell not shown differs from that shown in tone only so that the 2,1ao,soo

description of one bell will also describe the construction of the other and its cooperating parts and operation of same. The operating knob 23 operates the bell 30 to indicate addition, and the operating knob 22 operates for subtraction in one counter and addition in the other.

As it is desirable to produce two different tones by the operation of member 22 one to indicate subtraction, and for 23 to indicate addition, or if so desired, one of the bells 50 is made of thicker material than the other, or one of the balls K on the arms 43 and 44 is thicker than the other.

If it is desired to use an operating wheel as it has been described in my above identified pending application, Serial No. 690,811, a coupling as shown in-Figure is used. As shown there, the shaft l2 carries a coupling member l8 and the shaft l4 carries a pin 20 engaging t e groove in the coupling member I 9 while a coil spring 2| holds the coupling members in engagement with one another. A like coupling is provided on shaft II and the other end of shaft I2 only in the reversed order to the illustration in Figure 5. With these couplings the three counters can be coupled respectively in the following manner: by turning wheel I! which is just as large as wheel 65 of said patent application, so that the operation can be effected from outside of the casing. Upon the downward rotation of wheel I! (Fig. 1) counters A", B", and A, B and C will operate to add the score and counter A B remains stationary because member I8 of the coupling on spindle I 2 when coupled to member IS on spindle l4 will cause operations of both shafts i2 and I 4 to operate simultaneously and in the same direction, while coupling member I8 is separate from member IS on the shafts Ii and I2 respectively, and thus the ratchet wheel R on shaft II will arrest member l8 and prevent the same from turning in the direction of rotation of shaft l2. Upon upa ward rotation of wheel l1 counter A"B" will remain stationary, counter A, B, C subtracts and counter A'B' adds the score, because member IS on spindle l4 will slide off member I 3 on spindle l2 because a ratchet wheel R on the spindle l4 prevents it to rotate in this direction and member I! at the other end of the shaft I 2 will take along member l8 on spindle II as the ratchet R on spindle II will allow its rotation in the aforementioned direotion.

The counters are zeroized in a direction as permitted by the respective ratchet wheels R and a ratchet wheel R is on bushing Iii, shaft I5 and shaft 65 and prevents that shaft l5 and shaft 3: and bushing I be turned in an opposite direct on.

In the practical operation of my counter, if for instance two players agree to play a game for a total score of 125 balls, the counter works in the following manner:

The upper counters on spindles ll, l2 and I4 count the balls for the first player, and the lower counters Ila, l2a and I 4a count the balls for the second player, each player has two operatin members 22 and 23 at his disposal.

Now. assumed, the first player counts his high run in the upper left counter D and the second indicate the start of the first inning: If now the first player shoots 8 balls 05 the table, and while shooting the ninth predetermined or designated he hits the ball, but does not succeed to drive the ball into the predetermined or designated pocket of the table, and the second player will now start his game, the first player will now count his score balls by pressing member 22 eight times so that the counter on spindle II will remain in zero position, while the counters on spindles l2 and I will show the number 8.

The second player at the start will, it is assumed, hit the predetermined or designated ball, but his white or play ball runs into one 01 the pockets and must be counted as a scratch ball, the player will then have to press member 22, so that the counter Ila shows the number 1, while counter |2a on account of the aforedescribed mechanism will have the plate with the zeros thereon in front oi its number wheels, and the counter Ila remains stationary. In the meantime the first player whose high score was 8 will operate the operating wheel 55 in the upper left hand corner counter D until the number 8 appears thereon.

If now the first player starts in again, the second inning begins, and the inning counter will be operated to show the number 2, and also theinning run'counter on spindle l4 and counter "a will be operated for zeroizing by turning the shaft 65, so that the counter or register shows:

number 24 and the counter on the spindle l4 shows 16, the player will then operate member 22, so that counter on the spindle II will show 1, the counter on the spindle i2 will subtract and show 23 and counter on spindle ll will remain stationary and show the number 16.

Assumed the second player starts now to play again, and misses this time the predetermined ball which will necessitate another operation of member 22 so that counter l'la shows 2 and in counter 12a the 0 on the zero plate will remain stationary and also counter a will remain so. Thus the second inning is over and the third inning starts, the inning counter will be operated to show numeral 3. s

The first player keeping in mind his highest score in an inning, and byfoperating the counter in the left hand corner the number 16 will ap pear, and the counters on thespindle l4 and counter Ila will be zeroized by shaft u, so that theregister shows:

02 000 00 lfthenthefirgtpl yershootsfiballsofl the table, he counts the score by pressing memberIISBtimessothattheregistershows:

V 16 03 Y 00 01 058 35 02 000 00 It now the second player in this inning shoots this time 41 ballspflthe table, hewilloperate member2l41times,andthecounter llaremains having simultaneous reference to the drawing.

to show 2 counter Ila will show 39 and counter Ila will display the numeral ll, thus:

1a 03 00 01 s as 5 02 039 41 If new the fourth inning starts, the inning counter will be operated to show 4.

The first player has operated his high run counter to 35 and the second player his high run counter to 41. Then the counters on spindle I4 and counter a again will be zeroized so that the register shows:

Before the beginning of the fifth inning, the inning counter is operated to show 5, and the 80 counter on spindle l4 and counter Ila will be zeroized. No player operates the high run counter at this time. Thus the register will show:

as 05 41 u 01 064 00 1 03 05': 00

The play is now continued, until in one counter on the spindle l2 and in counter l2a the number I25 will appear, and the respective player will have won the game.

It is the rule of the game that 15 balls are placed upon the table, and all are to be played oil! with the exception of one single ball which remains in its place, while the other balls which have been shot oil! are placed again upon the table in a triangular frame.

It is believed that from the above described operations the construction and operation 01' my register will be fully understood especially when It will be understood that I have described and shown the preferred form of my apparatus as one example only of the many possible ways to practically construct the same, and that I may make such changes in the general arrangement of the apparatus and in the construction of its minor details as come within the scope of the appended claims without departure from the spirit oi my invention and the principles involved.

Thus, while my counter is specifically intended for keeping score, I desire to reserve my right to make the counter serviceable for any other purpose where three counters are employed to keep certain records or the like.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A score keeper of the character described, including a counter for total score, a counter for separate score, means to couple the total and separate score counters, and comprising a third counter, each of said three counters including a transfer mechanism, operating means to operate 76 the total and separate score counters in one direction for adding in both of these counters while the third counter remains stationary, means to operate the total score counter in opposite direction for subtraction, means to couple the total score counter and the third counter during the subtraction operation with the separate score counter uncoupled and remaining stationary, and

, a means actuated by the transfer mechanism when starting the counting operation in the total score counter for subtraction to cover the number of wheels of the total score counter during the operation of the third counter for adding.

2. In a counter including operating means to start an adding operation when operated in one direbtion and to start a subtracting operation when operated to turn in the opposite direction, a plate displaying 's to cover all the number wheels, and means to bring said plate into position in front of the number wheels to cover the numbers on said number wheels during a subtracting operation if the number wheels all display zeros at the beginning'of said subtracting operation, and means to hold the plate in this position until the number wheels again occupy zero position and are ready for adding the score.

3. A device including a total score counter, a separate score counter and a third counter, a means for producing subtraction in the total score counter and addition in the third counter while the separate score counter remains stationary, and comprising a housing having openings, operating members for the respective counters having each a specially designed or marked operating button protruding through the openings in said casing, a ratchet coupling for each operating member, a hook member on each coupling movably secured to its respective operating member, and springs to hold said hook member in engagement with said ratchet during counting in the total score counter and the separate score counter and during subtraction in the total score counter and addition in the third counter, other ratchet wheels on the respective counter spindles to prevent a rotation of the number wheels oi the separate score counter during subtraction in the total score counter and a rotation of the number wheels of the third counter during addition in the total score counter andseparate score counter.

4. In a score register including a total, separate and an extra counter, a zero plate for the total score counter so arranged that at the start of the operation of the first operating member, said zero plate appears before the total score counter, while upon the number wheels of said counter the numerals 999 appear beneath the zero plate, and during addition in the extra counter, while upon the operation of the second operating member said zero plate disappears again and the separate score counter starts for 

